Living Wild
Cystic Fibrosis may be a life limiting disease but that hasn’t stopped Jago Hartland living his to the full. “You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough” - Joe E Lewis.
It is something we all take for granted, and something we all need to do every day. Taking a breath shouldn’t be as hard as it is for some. No breath I take is taken for granted. Every deep breath in the summer air or cool winter wind is every breath that I fight for day in day out. From the morning nebuliser to the afternoon antibiotics, I will fight and win each breath, for me and others out there with Cystic Fibrosis.
After being born with a collapsed lung and being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, many people would have never guessed that by the age of 21, I would have ran my first marathon, trekked in the Himalayas over 5000m and through Vietnamese jungles, cycled 430km to Paris, completed the National Three peaks Challenge in under 24 hours and most importantly, raised thousands of pounds for multiple charities. Why? I am fighting for each breath and living wild has given me my motivation and drive to hit my goals and help others. Don’t feel sorry for me, people with Cystic Fibrosis have a beautiful life. From the severe coughing pain, I have managed to see more beauty in each day than most people may in their life. The worse part of my life would be reaching the end and realising I never truly lived.
Find what gives your life purpose and meaning and chase after it. It is never all fun and games, and to reach my goals has proved immensely challenging both physically and mentally. With having Cystic Fibrosis, people wouldn’t guess you are ill and I repeatedly get people saying ‘but you don’t look ill’. CF has made me sympathise more with people from all backgrounds, as just because ‘I don’t look ill’ doesn’t mean that I am not ill and the same goes for every person, no one knows what you are battling, so do it for you. I live wild for me.
What’s next? Mont Blanc in aid of the Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre, I am coming for you!
Since he was 16, he has set himself the challenge of raising over £1000 a year for different charities. He has have raised money for the CF Trust, the Starlight Children's Foundation, The Above and Beyond Charity and fund-raised for a World Challenge program. He has taken part in cycling from Bristol to Paris, completed the National Three Peaks Challenge, The Great South Run and volunteered in a Cambodian Orphanage.
Jago’s most recent undertaking is to raise money for The Oak and Furrows Wildlife Centre. The Wildlife centre is very close to all his families hearts as it was created in memory of his sister, Millie, whom passed away due to her Cystic Fibrosis before he was born. Thirteen years later, after watching the Wildlife Centre grow as a charity, Jago, along with his other sister and brother were diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.
Photo credits: Elliott Chau, John Salzarulo
